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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jas.2008-1107v1 87/1/334    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yan, X. M. Articles by Huang, L.-S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yan, X. M. Articles by Huang, L.-S.

Comparison of production traits between pigs with and without the Escherichia coli F4 receptors in a White Duroc x Erhualian intercross F₂ population¹

X. M. Yan^*,,2, J. Ren^*,2, X. Huang^*, Z. Y. Zhang^*, J. Ouyang^*, W. H. Zeng^*, Z. Z. Zou^*, S. J. Yang^*, B. Yang^* and L.-S. Huang^*,3

^* Key Laboratory for Animal Biotechnology of Jiangxi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 330045, Nanchang, China; and Department of Biology, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, 330038, Nanchang, China

³ Corresponding author: Lushenghuang{at}hotmail.com

To evaluate the influence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4 receptors on production traits in pigs, ETEC F4ab, F4ac, and F4ad adhesion phenotypes and 27 traits related to growth, carcass, meat quality, and length of the small intestine in a White Duroc x Erhualian intercross population were measured. Performance data revealed that pigs with the F4ab or F4ac receptor (adhesive phenotypes) had greater (P < 0.01) ADG during the fattening period (from 46 to 240 d) and carcass weight and length at 240 d than pigs lacking the receptors (nonadhesive phenotype). Conversely, animals having the F4ad receptor had less (P < 0.01) ADG during the fattening period and carcass weight than those lacking the receptor. In total, 8 adhesion patterns (A to H) for the 3 F4 strains were observed in this experimental population. Pigs with both F4ab and F4ac receptors (phenotype B) had greater (P < 0.01) ADG, carcass weight, and length at 240 d compared with pigs without the F4 receptors. No difference was found (P > 0.05) in traits related to meat quality, fatness, and length of the small intestine between pigs with or without the receptors. On the basis of the antagonistic relationship between susceptibility to F4ab/ac and production traits, we speculate that the prevalence of the ETEC F4ab/ac adhesive phenotype in pig populations is attributable to balanced natural and artificial selection.

Key Words: enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 adhesion phenotype • performance • pig • relationship